The authorities are not penalising the families. The prisoners are. By committing the crime they are implicitly accepting the possible repercussions of being caught.
If they do not also consider the effect on their families, they, and they alone, are responsible for the situation.

I can't agree. Separation from family is a possible but perhaps not necessary consequence of imprisonment. "The authorities" have the ability to prohibit or allow family contact. It would seem that some amount of inmate family contact would be constructive, benefitting families and inmates - and society. To my minds, total prohibition of family contact, borders on inhumane treatment of both inmates and families. Prison is tough enough, as it is.

And it boils down to this: does prohibition of family contact do any good? Does it serve to prevent inmates from committing crime upon their release, or does it merely create animosity? "Make them suffer for their crimes because they deserve it," is not an acceptable way for "the authorities" to spend my tax money. If I'm paying for it, then my money should accomplish something.

Up above, posters asked, "What about the rights of the victims?" I agree that government should do what it can to help relieve the loss suffered by victims, but is vengeance against the criminal a "right" of the victim? I don't think so. No amount of vengeance is going to help. Thirty years ago, the sister of a woman in our church was killed by a boyfriend. This woman and her mother made a career out of opposing the parole of the sister's killer, and the parole of all others convicted of violent crimes. The woman became an attorney, and the mother founded a very aggressive nonprofit organization that fights for "victims' rights" - bankrolled by the state prison guards union. I try to keep a reasonable relationship with this woman, but I'm very careful around her because she always seems to be on the verge of an outburst of anger. She has devoted her life to seeking vengeance, and I think that lust for vengeance has ruined her spirit. I believe in just compensation and victims' rights, but I don't think that vengeance should be one of those rights.

-Joe-